The artwork of fiction is dead. Proust, Tolstoy, Atwood, flow over. While half of-America slept, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Denver Nuggets one hundred forty-137 in a game with four – count them, you almost run out of hands – four beyond regular time intervals. That hasn’t passed off because Dwight D. Eisenhower was president. Yes, a person named Eisenhower turned into the president. NPR’s Tom Goldman is beginning to look like identify metropolis USA with organic ramps and fiddlehead ferns – Portland. Tom, thanks for being with us. And I’m breathless.
TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE: I wouldn’t leave it out.
SIMON: What a recreation – what a game.
GOLDMAN: Three and a half hours of the game as a diversion, entertainment, unmitigated delight, except you are from Denver.
SIMON: (Laughter) Pleasurable till the last 2d – remaining five.6 seconds, sincerely – yeah.
GOLDMAN: The quality summing up got here from Portland head educate Terry Stotts after the game. He stated I haven’t any idea what came about within the first half of or the second one 1/2 or the primary three overtimes. Rodney Hood came in and played notable. It became a hell of a sport. I’ve never been worried about a game like that. It changed into an exceptional attempt through each group. Rodney Hood, who he did mention, got here into the sport…
SIMON: Yeah.
GOLDMAN: …Two mins left in the fourth time beyond regulation after sitting at the bench for all time. He becomes the hottest participant at the court. And he scored seven factors, consisting of a monster three-point shot on the stop, which quite plenty sealed it. Sadly, Scott, that leaves out such a lot of different players…
SIMON: Yeah.
GOLDMAN: …From both groups who competed magnificently. But if I’ve piqued your hobby, set aside 3 half hours nowadays and watch a replay.
SIMON: On the other hand, it is simply -sport-to-one lead. Do the Blazers have enough inside the tank?
GOLDMAN: I think each group will summon the bodily energy. This is what they train for. But I assume Portland has a psychological benefit proper now. Losing a recreation like that once that attempt is pretty demoralizing. And Denver has to address that. And it, in all likelihood, puts them in a more prone position. If the Blazers get by way of Denver, in all likelihood, Golden State lurks within the next spherical.
SIMON: Yeah.
GOLDMAN: Blazer lovers are simply wondering…
SIMON: Lurks – Golden State looms.
GOLDMAN: Looms – however, Blazer fanatics are just considering tomorrow’s Game 4 towards the Nuggets at this factor.
SIMON: Kentucky Derby, of the path, today – however, this year’s race comes inside the face of loads of controversy surrounding the deaths of the finest athletes in that game. And, of the path, I suggest the horses.
GOLDMAN: Yeah. Today starts the Triple Crown duration – 3 large races, the Derby, the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes, over the subsequent month. This time always captures even the informal racing fan. But as you say, horse racing already is in the spotlight with the deaths of 23 horses in the latest months at Santa Anita in Southern California. Those deaths precipitated calls for reform – some of it starting to appear.
SIMON: Some modifications had been made, right?
GOLDMAN: Yeah. Well, Santa Anita has responded, placing into place numerous modifications associated with medicating racehorses. And just this week, it becomes announced the track will start the usage of experiment technology to look at horses and diagnose injuries before they emerge as catastrophic. That’s taken into consideration a huge deal. And on a larger stage, a corporation known as the Coalition For Horse Racing Integrity – is beginning a nationwide marketing campaign to guide a current invoice in Congress that could regulate racing and unify an extremely balkanized industry.
SIMON: Yeah.
GOLDMAN: Thirty-8 states have raced. And there are 38 units of rules. And it makes it surely tough to get any measure handed, particularly protection measures that could shield the horses.
SIMON: Something I’ve wondered about in the latest weeks – Tom, does horse racing have trouble the way football has a problem with concussions, that there may be simply damage in the sport itself?
GOLDMAN: That’s a virtually good question. Some people say this is actually the case and that horse racing should be abolished because it’s inherently merciless to the animals. But there are sincerely others, many inside the enterprise, who say racing can pass on appropriately without being mistreated. But if the enterprise desires to both benefit many humans and are humane in the direction of the animals at the same time, it must be a lot higher. There needs to be a reform because if the public loses a hobby, reform efforts stall. As one animal rights activist instructed me, complacency is the enemy of the horses. And that might doom a whole enterprise.
SIMON: Yeah. NPR’s Tom Goldman, thanks a lot.
GOLDMAN: You’re welcome.
